A new ball is being used by the BCCI for the Vijay Hazare Trophy

A new ball is being used by the BCCI for the Vijay Hazare Trophy: A domestic one-day tournament in India for the first time is being played with the white Kookaburra turf ball, used in international limited-over games, instead of the Kookaburra regular version. The ball is being used in the Vijay Hazare Trophy the premier domestic one-day tournament in India which started today.

Left-arm fast bowler Irfan Pathan welcomed the move by the BCCI. “Batsmen will be having a lot of fun. The Kookaburra Regular ball had a pronounced seam and favoured bowlers. The ball also used to get very soft. This year the real quality of bowlers can be determined”, Irfan told Times of India on Wednesday on the eve of Baroda’s match against Delhi at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground.

“The good thing about the tournament this year is that the youngsters will get to play with the Turf ball. It’s almost like the difference between the red SG Test ball, which is used in Tests in India and Ranji Trophy matches, and the SG Tournament ball which is used at junior level”, Delhi coach Vijay Dahiya said.

The BCCI’s prioritized the tournament last year, using it to kick-start the domestic season keeping the 2015 World Cup in mind that was held in Australia. For the second season in a row this competition has been given top priority along with the Ranji Trophy.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament have been slated ahead of the World T20 this season. With almost all the regular India players, including ODI and T20I captain MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Ishant Sharma and Rohit Sharma due to take part, the tournament will offer opportunities for those on the fringes to impress and will be closely contested.